Activation of the hexosamine pathway of glucose metabolism in hyperglycemia leads to the formation of glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and later malonic dialdehyde. These products have a negative effect on the blood vessels wall in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the antioxidant drug N-acetylcysteine in patients with T2DM and lower extremities microangiopathy for correction of glyoxal, metiglyoxal and malonic dialdehyde levels.
20 men with T2DM and lower extremities microangiopathy with N-acetylcysteine treatment combined with recommended therapy and 30 healthy men (control group) in the study were involved. N-acetylcysteine administered in a daily dose of 600 mg intravenously for 7 days. Methods of high-performance liquid chromatography used.
In patients with T2DM and lower extremities microangiopathy, the glyoxal level increased to the third day (by 56%) and decreased to the control values to the seventh day. The level of methylglyoxal did not change to the third day, but decreased by 5 times to the seventh day. The dynamics of the malonic dialdehyde level decreased on the third (by 15%) and seven (by 47%) days.
The use of N-acetylcysteine allows to decrease the amount of ketoaldehydes in the blood and, thereby, to reduce the manifestation of vascular complications.